Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - IceRays too much for sluggish T-Rex

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Monday, November 27, 2000

IceRays too much for sluggish T-Rex
Corpus Christi fends off late rally by Tupelo to record 4-3 road victory
By Mark Beason
Tupelo Daily Journal
The lights were on at the BancorpSouth Center, but the T-Rex had a serious lack of power.
   Tupelo struggled on several key power-play opportunities in the first two periods and lost a 4-3 decision against Corpus Christi Sunday in front of 1,633 fans.
   The T-Rex had won back-to-back games but looked sluggish against the IceRays after beating them 3-2 Saturday. From the opening faceoff the IceRays had control as the T-Rex never got the lead and was just 1-for-7 on power-play opportunities.
   In the first two periods the T-Rex had six power-play opportunities but was unable to score.
   "The difference was in the effort," Tupelo coach George Dupont said. "Being successful on the power-play is about effort and outworking the other team and they just outworked us. " Tupelo wasn't able to keep the puck in the scoring zone on power-play opportunities as the IceRays scored their first goal shorthanded.
   The T-Rex were on a 2 minute power-play when the IceRays advanced the puck into the Tupelo zone. Corpus Christi left winger Jeff Paluseo scored the shorthanded goal at the 10:32 mark with Jamie Hearn getting the assist.
   "The guys didn't prepare themselves last night to get ready to play today (Sunday)," Dupont said. "We had 18 guys that weren't ready to play." Corpus Christi pushed its lead out to 2-0 when Dennis Shiryaev beat Tupelo goalie Stu Dunn, getting the assist from Mario Dumoulin and Cory Evans. The goal came at the 12:15 mark in the second.
   Tupelo trailed 3-0 in the second, following a goal by IceRays defenseman Geoff Tseplis at the 14:22 mark.
   The T-Rex got on the board on a goal by Tupelo defenseman Barry McKinlay as Brian Stacey and Jason Firth got credit for an assist.
   The T-Rex got back in the game in the third, pulling within one 3-2, on a goal by Stacey. The Tupelo defenseman scored at the 8:08 mark on a power-play goal. "We know we've got the kind of team that can string together a bunch of wins," Stacey said. " But we have to do more than just step out on the ice, we've got to put forth the effort and right now we're not doing that. We just came out flat not ready to play." It wouldn't take long for Corpus Christi to answer, scoring just 2 minutes later. Kurt Wickenheiser scored on an assist by Bumstead and Tseplis at the 8:45 mark.
   Corpus Christi played a slower pace than the T-Rex would like and was able to keep the T-Rex offensive firepower in check.
   Tupelo would rally late to pull back within one, 4-3, as Firth scored at the 17:16 mark in the third. Brant Blackned and Pat Powers got the assist.

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